The new head of Quebec’s oil and gas lobby has compared Quebec to a social assistance recipient in a commentary criticizing the way transfer funds are meted out to provinces.

Michael Binnion, head of the Quebec Oil and Gas Association, made the comparison in a blog entry where he argued that the way transfer funds are set up encourages provinces like Quebec — which is the largest recipient of transfer funds — from developing its oil and gas resources.

He recommends changing the equalization payments structure so that Quebec can keep both its full share of federal funds and reap royalties from oil and gas exploration.

“How did we reform welfare? We stopped taking away people’s benefits when they got a part-time job. And how did we reform equalization for Newfoundland? We didn’t take away their benefits when they developed [the Hibernia off-shore oil field] or when they developed Voisey’s Bay [nickel mine],” he said as quoted at the Post.

“We gave them an extended period of time to develop them and increase their revenues. And then we phase out equalization when they can afford it.”

The equalization payments system has been an occasional source of political controversy in Canada since its inception in 1957. Quebec is the largest recipient, taking $7.8 billion of more than $16 billion in payments for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.